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Accelerated Computer Science Degree

B.S. and M.S.

Accelerate your career by earning both a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science in just five years.

Computer Science plays a central role in our understanding of the applications of technology. UND’s accelerated B.S./M.S. program opens the door to an early start in this dynamic profession.

Program type:
Accelerated (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
5 years
Credit hours:
138-144

Why earn an accelerated computer science degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Complete the required courses, and you'll earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees at the same time. You’ll declare your program of study as an undergraduate student and follow a straightforward plan to graduate with a master’s degree.

  1. Incoming freshman or transfer students apply to UND as an undergraduate student.
  2. After completing 60 credits, apply to the School of Graduate Studies.

Mastering computer science can lead you to exciting careers in STEM. So why wait? At UND, you can earn both bachelor's in Computer Science and master's in Computer Science in just five years.

Here's how this accelerated program works:

  • Early Graduate Courses: Begin your graduate-level courses at the start of your fourth year. This will allow you to delve deeper into advanced topics and gain a head start on your master's degree.
  • Junior-Year Research: Embark on your thesis research as early as your junior year, providing you with a unique opportunity to conduct research early in your academic journey.

The computer science program at UND is characterized by small class sizes and a collaborative learning approach. Engage closely with acclaimed faculty who guide you through cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, mobile app development, and software engineering and design. This personalized approach ensures that you not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also gain practical skills that are highly relevant to the rapidly evolving tech industry.

You'll have the chance to make a lasting impact on the field by undertaking an original thesis. This hands-on experience allows you to explore your interests, contribute to ongoing research, and showcase your proficiency in a specific area of computer science.

The B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

UND's Accelerated Computer Science Degree

  • Advance your technology skills with a curriculum that encourages a formal, abstract, theoretical and practical approach to the study of computer science.

  • Develop creative thinking, problem solving and research skills, along with specialized expertise.

  • Flexible course offerings and specializations allow for a tailored educational experience.

  • Gain access to on-campus computing power. We have two computer labs, a set of diverse servers and a high-performance computing (HPC) system. 

  • UND is a leader in big data expertise. We are the lead institution in a multi-university project for digital agriculture, funded by the National Science Foundation. And we  co-lead another NSF project to determine industry and academic computational needs in the Midwest.

  • Conduct research, develop software and manage systems for many schools and departments.

What can I do with an accelerated computer science degree?

90%

Job placement rates are consistently above that level for UND computer science program graduates

UND

120K

Average salary for a software developers with a master's in computer science

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

UND computer science graduates have gone on to careers all over the world in all types of industries, including high-tech, defense, aviation, financial and more. Our graduates are employed by:

  • Apple
  • Digi-Key
  • Fast Enterprises
  • Google
  • HGST
  • Microsoft
  • Honeywell
  • Rockwell-Collins
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Deutsche Bank
  • NAS
  • Unisys
  • Mayo Clinic

Jobs with an Accelerated Computer Science Degree

With a master's in Computer Science, you can be competitive in mid- to high-level opportunities related to computers systems and applications, such as:

  • Software Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Specialist
  • Systems Integration Engineer
  • Computer Scientist
  • Network Analyst

Accelerated Computer Science Degree Courses

CSCI 532. High Performance Computing and Paradigms. 3 Credits.

A study of current topics in threads, inter-process communication and synchronization, master-slave and peer designs for concurrency, client-server architectures, cluster/grid computing and massively parallel computer architectures. A considerable amount of programming will be done in one or more of these environments. F, odd years.

CSCI 565. Advanced Software Engineering. 3 Credits.

A study of current topics related to the design and implementation of large software systems. Course content may vary with instructor and student interest. Potential topics include: software testing and validation, programming environments, program metrics and complexity, design methodologies, software reliability and fault tolerance. Prerequisite: CSCI 463.

CSCI 543. Machine Learning. 3 Credits.

An introductory course in machine learning for data science. Topics include the learning algorithms of a Bayesian network, neural network, parametric/non-parametric methods, kernel machine, support-vector machine, etc. for regression, classification, clustering, dimensionality reduction, etc. Prerequisite: CSCI 365 or CSCI 384. F, odd years.

CSCI 551. Security for Cloud Computing. 3 Credits.

Cloud computing scheme aims to provide users with a shared computing infrastructure. The privacy and security concerns in cloud computing are different from the security concerns present in a dedicated data center. This course focuses on these security concerns and countermeasures for a cloud environment. This course provides an overview of cloud computing and virtualization, the critical technology underpinning cloud computing, and the major threats to the operations of cloud computing. Topics may include access control, identity management, denial of service, account and service hijacking, secure APIs, malware, forensics, regulatory compliance, trustworthy computing, and secure computing. Prerequisite: CSCI 370, CSCI 451; and one of the following: CSCI 327, CSCI 427 or CSCI 555. S, odd years.

CSCI 522. Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science. 3 Credits.

A selection of topics from theoretical computer science, possibly including formal languages, automata, other models of computation, and the theory of computability, decidability, and complexity. Prerequisite: CSCI 492.

CSCI 575. Analysis of Algorithms. 3 Credits.

The time and space complexity of classical computer algorithms is analyzed. NP hard and NP complete problems are characterized and illustrated. Prerequisite: CSCI 435.

Accelerated Computer Science Degree Online

2#

best online graduate programs

EDsmart

1#

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

Every course is available in an asynchronous format. For those who prefer real-time interaction, select courses offer an optional synchronous lecture option.

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family, and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls, and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture.
  • Ask questions.
  • Participate in class discussions.
  • Conduct group activities.
  • Participate in video-sharing.
  • Have chat conversations.
  • Use interactive whiteboards.
  • Take live polls.

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor, and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Top-Tier Accelerated Computer Science Degree Online

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Leaders in Computer Science

As a leader of Big Data, UND's goal is to make things more efficient, more effective and safer for North Dakotans.

Explore More Options

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional education opportunities.

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